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Co., WHMIFM, Howell MI, MO&O, FCC 94320 //$ $/ 1.106(a)(1) Petition for Reconsiderationref. to Commission /$ $/ 73.3519(b) Repetitious Applications /$ $/ 73.207 Minimum Distance Separation Between Stations /$ $/ 73.211 Power and Antenna Height Requirements /$ $/ 73.213 Grandfathered Shortspaced Stations /$ ///newjob/// $///FCC 94320,1/9/95,///$  ? < #Xx `NQX#Before the FCC 94320  ? <0  FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION  ? < #Xx `NQX# Washington, D.C. 20554  ?<#Xx6X@DQ/X@#In re Applications ofhh@h) x` `  hh@h)  ?<THE LIVINGSTON RADIO COMPANY@h)  ?h<x` `  hh@h)ppFile Nos. BPH891220IA  ?0<x` `  hh@h)pp   BPH920325IE x` `  hh@h)  ?<For Construction Permithh@h)  ?<to Modify the Facilities of@h)  ?P<Station WHMIFM, Howell, Michiganh) \ MEMORANDUM OPINION AND ORDER  ?<xAdopted: December 14, 1994hReleased: )gi January 13, 1995 )gi  By the Commission: 1. The Commission has before it the December 10, 1990 petition for reconsideration filed by The Livingston Radio Company ("Livingston") requesting reexamination of the Mass Media Bureaus's ("Bureau") October 30, 1990 dismissal of its application (file no. BPH891220IA) to modify the licensed  ? <facilities of Station WHMIFM, Howell, Michigan.X u ?`"<ԍIn view of the issues presented in the petition, the matter has been referred by the Bureau to the Commission pursuant to 47 C.F.R.  1.106(a)(1). In addition, this decision addresses Livingston's subsequent minor change  ?!<application (BPH920325IE), filed March 25, 1992.-  !u ?'<ԍPursuant to 47 C.F.R.  73.3519(b), this latter proposal may not be considered until after WHMIFM's petition for reconsideration has been addressed. By letter dated June 1, 1992, WHMIFM requested dismissal of the petition for"h)0*0*0*)" reconsideration if modification application BPH920325IE is also granted. For the reasons set forth below, we will address  ? <seriatim both the petition for reconsideration and the March 25, 1992 modification application.-"!0*0*0*P("Ԍ2. By way of background, WHMIFM is licensed to operate on Channel 228A with an effective radiated power (ERP) of 3.0 kW and an antenna height above average terrain (HAAT) of 91.0 meters. The station is currently shortspaced to secondadjacent channel Class B station WLTIFM, Detroit, Michigan and thirdadjacent  ?<channel Class B station WIBMFM, Jackson, Michigan. u ?( <ԍ47 C.F.R.  73.207 requires WHMI to be spaced at least 69 km from WLTI and WIBMFM, whereas the actual spacings are 64.3 km and 66.9 km, respectively. On December 20, 1989 Livingston filed minor change application BPH891220IA to increase its ERP to 6.0 kW and its HAAT to 96 meters at its present site. Livingston asserted in the application that, pursuant to 47 C.F.R.  73.207, it was permitted to modify its facility from the presently licensed parameters up to the maximum permitted for a Class A station (6.0 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT), provided that the proposed increase did not exacerbate he existing shortspacings to WLTI and WIBM. These existing shortspacings, states Livingston, were created as a result of an increase in the Class A spacing requirements adopted by the  ? <Report and Order in Docket 8090, 94 FCC 2d 152, 48 Fed. Reg.  ?H <29496 (1983). Because the Second Report and Order in Docket 88375, 4 FCC Rcd 6375 (1989), which adopted the higher 6.0 kW power limit for Class A stations, did not increase the spacing requirements between Class A and second and thirdadjacent channel Class B stations, WHMIFM concludes that it is permitted to increase to maximum Class A facilities at its present site. 3. The Bureau's October 30, 1990 dismissal letter responded by  ?<stating that the increase in spacing requirements in the Report  ?P<and Order in Docket 8090 was adopted when the maximum parameters for Class A stations were limited to 3.0 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT.  ?<Further, the Bureau indicated that the Second Report and Order in Docket 88375 did not contemplate any power increases for stations not meeting the spacing requirements prior to the October 2, 1989 effective date of the revised Class A spacing requirements; because WHMIFM was not fully spaced under the "old" (preOctober 2, 1989) spacing rules, it was limited to maximum facilities of 3.0 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT. Since the application proposed facilities in excess of that limit, it was dismissed as unacceptable for filing. 4. In its petition for reconsideration, Livingston continues to maintain that the application was in compliance with 47 C.F.R.  73.207, since no change in the existing shortspacings was  ? <proposed.   u ?H&<ԍ WHMIFM cites 73.207(a), which states in pertinent part: x` ` applications to modify the facilities of stations x` ` with shortspaced antenna locations authorized x` ` pursuant to prior waivers of the distance separation"h)0*0*0**"Ԍx` ` requirements may be accepted, provided that such x` ` applications propose to maintain or improve that x` ` particular spacing deficiency. x` `  Livingston also contends that neither the fact that" 0*0*0*p&" provisions of BC Docket 8090 were adopted when the maximum Class  ?<A ERP was 3 kW nor the fact that the Second Report and Order contained no explicit provision for power increases for shortspaced Class A stations "provide any guidance whatsoever" regarding whether such stations which became shortspaced under BC Docket 8090 were barred from 6.0 kW/100 meter HAAT operation. Rather, states Livingston, "had the Commission determined to bar 6 kW power increases to Class A stations that became shortspaced by virtue of BC Docket 8090, it had ample opportunity to so state." Petition at 6. Livingston also holds that the staff's dismissal was contrary to the action approved by the Commission  ?<in Beasley Radio Company, 4 FCC Rcd 6344 (1989), and the staff's interpretations given by Bureau staff members in a discussion  ?( <concerning the 6.0 kW power increases with the Association of Federal Communications Consulting Engineers ("AFCCE") in December  ? <of 1989. u ?<ԍLivingston states that AFCCE members were told at that meeting that stations "shortspaced under the preOctober 2, 1989  ?<rules for any reason other that the fact that they were authorized prior to 1964, 'have the right to go to full power for [their] class and all the rights associated with [their] class.'" Petition, at 12. Therefore, Livingston believes that reinstatement and grant of application BPH891220IA are warranted. 5. We disagree. With respect to Livingston's argument concerning the lack of a specific statement addressing the power and height maxima of stations with shortspacings created by Docket 8090, we note that at the time Livingston's original application (and later the petition for reconsideration) was  ?<filed, the Second Report and Order in Docket 88375 was still subject to petitions for reconsideration and clarification. In disposing of those petitions, the Commission expressly addressed the issue raised by Livingston in its application. We held that those stations with shortspacings created on or after November 16, 1964 (excluding shortspacings created after October 1, 1989) are governed by the provisions of 47 C.F.R.  73.213 (c).  ?p<Memorandum Opinion and Order in Docket 88375, 6 FCC Rcd 3417, 3422 (1991). Under this section, WHMIFM is permitted to increase to 6 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT provided that it submitted exhibits demonstrating the consent of the shortspaced stations to a grant and the increase is consistent with the public interest. The exhibit must consist of a letter (or other suitable document) from the affected parties acknowledging the proposed modification and indicating that it is not  ?<objectionable. Memorandum Opinion and Order, 6 FCC Rcd at 3419. Since no such exhibits have been provided, WHMIFM may not modify its facilities to operate above the 3 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT"@( 0*0*0*%" standard. Contrary to Livingston's statements, 47 C.F.R.  73.207(a) simply states that applications to modify the facilities of stations with existing shortspacings may be accepted, without reference to the maximum parameters permitted for such a station. Since it deals with spacing only, acceptance under the provisions 47 C.F.R.  73.207 does not excuse  ?<noncompliance with the Commission's other technical provisions,  ?x<including the limitations on power and antenna height.xu ?<ԍThe Second Report and Order indicated that all stations becoming shortspaced pursuant to BC Docket 8090 are governed solely by newly promulgated Section 73.213(c). Class A stations broadcasting with no more than 3 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT were permitted, under that section, "to modify or relocate ... newly  ? <grandfathered Class A stations that do not increase power above  ? <the current limit ...." 4 FCC Rcd at 6381. Section 73.207 merely states that applicants may modify their shortspaced stations so long as no spacing deficiency is exacerbated. No other rule permits shortspaced Class A stations not in compliance with either 47 C.F.R.  73.213(c)(2) (requiring consent of the affected stations) or 47 C.F.R. 73.215 (the Commission's contour protection standards) to increase to maximum Class A facilities of 6.0 kW ERP/100 meters HAAT.  ? <6. Moreover, we find that Beasley Radio Company is inapposite to the case at hand. That decision involved a Class B station attempting to increase to maximum facilities in keeping with then 47 C.F.R.  73.211, which at the time permitted a shortspaced station to increase to the maximum power and height permitted for its class. In contrast, the present case involves a situation in which the specific maximum power limit of 47 C.F.R.  73.211 for  ?h<class A stations, as well as the general requirements for increasing facilities by shortspaced stations, have been dramatically changed by MM Docket 88375. Finally, with respect to the staff's discussion with AFCCE about the 6 kW rules, we note that "it is the obligation of the interested parties to  ?P<ascertain facts from official Commission records and files and  ?<not rely on statements or informal opinions by the staff." See  ?<Texas Media Group, Inc., 5 FCC Rcd 2581, 2582 (1990), appeal  ?<denied sub nom. Malkan FM Associates v. FCC, 935 F.2d 1313, 1319  ?p<(D.C. Cir. 1991).Xpu ?!<ԍMoreover, the portion of the discussion with the AFCCE provided in the petition for reconsideration did not address with any particularity a specific situation. Accordingly, we find that the Bureau's October 30, 1990 dismissal of application BPH891220IA was proper. The petition for reconsideration therefore will be denied below. 7. We now consider Livingston's subsequent minor change application, file no. BPH920325IE. That application also proposes operation from the present transmitter site with maximum Class A facilities of 5.0 kW ERP/110 meters HAAT. An informal" 0*0*0*#" objection to the application was filed on April 30, 1992 by Viacom International, Inc. ("Viacom"), licensee of WLTI, Detroit, MI. 8. In this proposal, Livingston notes that no objection was ever filed against the earlier application by either WLTI or WIBM. Livingston also reports that its counsel held telephone conversations with counsel for WLTI and WIBM in which those stations indicated that they preferred not to sign an agreement permitting WHMIFM to increase its facilities. The present application also claims that a "critical need" exists for the power increase to overcome "considerable interference" from existing superpowered stations. Livingston states the WHMI(AM) and WHMI(FM) are the only stations licensed to Livingston County, with WHMI(AM) being forced to leave the air at night in order not to interfere with other AM stations. Further, WHMIFM's signal allegedly is "unreliable" in the southeastern portion of Livingston County, home to half of the county's population. Two letters from police forces serving the county are provided in support of WHMIFM's effort to improve its signal. Livingston also states that WHMIFM is a primary source for information when tornados or severe storms threaten. 9. Viacom states in its informal objection that Livingston has erroneously implied that, by not filing an informal objection to application BPH891220IA, it has acquiesced to Livingston's proposal. Viacom also argues that "public safety concerns cannot be properly transformed into means by which to circumvent Commission rules [such as 47 C.F.R.  73.213(c)] that protect stations such as WLTI" from increased interference, as 47 C.F.R.  73.213(c) is designed to do. Informal objection, at 3. Viacom further urges the Commission not to waive the requirement that written consent be submitted to demonstrate compliance with 47 C.F.R.  73.213(c)(2), and requests dismissal of the application. In response to Viacom's informal objection, Livingston calls the increase in interference within WLTI's 54 dBu protected service  ? <area de minimis, by its calculation an increase of from 0.7 square miles to 2.0 square miles. 10. We have concluded, based upon our review of this matter, that Livingston's application should not be granted. This application, which does not propose to change transmitter site, is therefore subject to the same spacing requirements as Livingston's original proposal. The purpose of 47 C.F.R.  73.213(c) is to prevent increased interference form existing shortspaced FM stations. This application would increase the existing interference areas to WLTI and WIBMFM, which is contrary to the stated intent of the Commission in MM Docket No  ?%<88375. See e.g., Second Report and Order, 4 FCC Rcd at 6381. Ass noted by Viacom, Livingston has not secured the consent of WLTI to permit a unilateral increase by WHMIFM, nor apparently does it have the consent of WIBMFM. By Livingston's own statement, the licensees of these two stations were unwilling to give such consent. Written consent is an essential predicate"h)0*0*0*1" under Section 73.213(c)(2) to grant of Livingston's application. Moreover, the lack of an opposition before the Commission from  ?<either of these parties cannot be construed as assent. 11. With respect to Livingston's statement that the increased facilities are necessary to overcome interference from  ?<"superpowered stations," we note that no such station exists.Xu ?<ԍWe also note that, according to the staff's evaluation, no objectionable interference occurs within WHMIFM's protected 60 dBu contour. Shortspaced station WLTI and WIBMFM operate within the power/antenna height limits of 47 C.F.R.  73.211. Two additional shortspaced Canadian stationCKLWFM, Windsor, Ontario and CBCLFM, London, Ontariooperate within the framework of the treaty between the U.S. and Canada governing FM operations in the border zone and do not cause objectionable interference to WHMIFM. WHMIFM's licensed facility continues to be afforded the same protection from interference to which the station is entitled under the Commission's rules. With respect to the severe weather and public service considerations raised by  ?H <Livingston, we note that WHMIFM is not an only local service, as it attempts to show, nor is it the only station capable of providing emergency and public service information to Livingston  ?<County.4 ` u ?<ԍPursuant to longstanding practice, AM and FM stations are considered to be joint components of a single aural medium.  ?<Memorandum Opinion and Order, Docket 88526, 5 FCC Rcd 7094, 7097  ?p<(1990); FM Channel Policies/ Procedures, 90 FCC 2d 88, 92 (1982). WHMIFM, although the sole FM station licensed within Livingston County, cannot be considered the only local aural service due to the presence of WHMI. Additionally, Howell lies within the principal community contour of stations WHFBFM, Benton Harbor, Michigan, and WAUS(FM), Berrien Springs, Michigan, as well as AM stations WJR, Detroit, and WTKA, Ann Arbor (daytime only). The number of receivable signal serving the Howell area will, of course, be significantly larger.4 We believe that waiving our core technical rules standards on the basis of nontechnical considerations (e.g., local service, public service reasons) would tend to undermine the FM allocations system as a whole and will not be undertaken absent truly compelling circumstances. Such circumstances do not  ?<exist in this case. See North Texas Media, Inc. v. FCC, FCC 84 ?P<456, aff'd, 59 RR 2d 605 (D.C. Cir. 1985); ICBC Corp. v. FCC, 716 F.2d 926 (D.C. Cir. 1983). "X 0*0*0* "Ԍ12. In light of the foregoing, the petition for reconsideration filed by Livingston against the dismissal of application BPH891220IA IS DENIED. In addition, the informal objection by Viacom International Inc. against application BPH920325IE IS GRANTED to the extent indicated, and application BPH920325IE IS DISMISSED. x` `  hh@FEDERAL COMMUNICATIONS COMMISSION x` `  hh@William F. Caton x` `  hh@Acting Secretary